19/05/2026
Arlo. Named after the good dinosaur. It suited him well as he may have been the goodest.
He was a fox red lab born in 2015. For Arlo, football (and Aunty Helen) was life. Myself, Harvey and Josh spent many summers fighting him for the ability to play in the back garden. As frustrating as it was, we wouldnât have changed a moment of it. All three of us agree those were some of the best summers we have had.
2 weeks ago, Arlo went to sleep for the final time.
A father to Koda, Lenny and 3 other beautiful dogs.
A brother to Josh and Florence.
A best friend to my aunty Helen.
A constant presence on the yard.
Tail always wagging, top lip stuck in his teeth, love for everyone he came across.
It is always sad when I dog passes on. It is a stark reminder of the finality of the world we live in.
When you know things will come to an end, it seems beneficial to avoid attachment and love entirely. But if you have ever owed a dog, youâll know this is impossible to do.
One of the things that I try to take from the life of a dog is this:
Nothing lasts forever. Life doesnât last forever. Love doesnât last forever. Relationships, endeavours, careers⊠all things must come to an end.
However, despite the finality of these things, you must still love them regardless of the eventual heartbreak. What a soulless life it would be if we didnât. Always too scared to get hurt that we never experience joys of vulnerability.
Arlo was the epitome of this.
Be like Arlo.
Goodnight boy.